What are you currently reading? Showing 301-350 of 1,649

[Lauren]

I just finished T. Robbins' Still Life with Woodpecker. I don't know what to start next. I have quite a few books that I want to read sitting on the shelves at home. Does anyone know anything about Fall On Your Knees - Ann MacDonald or House of Sand and Fog - Andre III Dubus? Both of those are on my shelf right now.

[Ann]

Lauren, House of Sand & Fog is amazing. Have not read Fall on your Knees, but I know that got some great bookseller reads when it was first out.

[Sonya]

I have just started listening to A Confederacy of Dunces. It's been on my list forever, I don't know why it's taken so long to get to it. With books I need to "confront," I often try the audio book. But the reader is... hmm, he takes on a highly affected New Orleans voice for Ignatius, and it's a little distracting. Has anyone read the book or had experience with any version of the audio book, good or bad?

[Kirsty]

I have A Confederacy of Dunces on my shelf but haven't picked it up yet... I'd be interested to know what you think of it Sonya.

Ann, I just read your blog post about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I just had to say I LOVED that book! It is definitely one of my favourites. The writing is terrific and the drawings are such an enhancement to the story. I do like to read YA every know and again.

I've been pleasantly surprised by a number of YA novels that I've picked up over the years. I know that a lot of people look down on adults who read YA, but I find that most of the time the people who have these predjudices think that all YA is shallow, unoriginal and juvenile. In most cases I've found that very much the opposite is true.

[Stephanie]

Ann wrote: "Lauren, House of Sand & Fog is amazing. Have not read Fall on your Knees, but I know that got some great bookseller reads when it was first out."

I did not like Fall on Your Knees at all.

[Stephanie]

I just started The Thorn Birds and The Hunger Games.

[Michael]

so many things to comment on!

House of Sand and Fog is wonderful! Truly moving and powerful.

The Rick Riordan books are great. I listened to the first three on audio. Need to listen to the last two!

[[deleted user]]

Sonya wrote: "I have just started listening to A Confederacy of Dunces. It's been on my list forever, I don't know why it's taken so long to get to it. With books I need to "confront," I often try the audio bo..."

I read the book in print. It's definitely "literary fiction" (i.e. character driven as opposed to plot driven.) While the argument can be made that the protag is comically ironic and absurd, I found him manic, neurotic and not particularly likable. The book is something of an intellectual vanity piece, quoting heavily from Boethius, inferring that the author and protag had an above-average intellect. After I had finished reading it, a felt a certain regret that Walker Percy himself wasn't still alive and able to walk a class though it. Maybe I would have had a deeper or greater appreciation for it.

[Scott]

I just started the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I really enjoy YA Fantasy so I figured this would be right up my alley. I see that I will have to add series by Rick Rioradan to my reading list.

[[deleted user]]

Kirsty wrote: "I have A Confederacy of Dunces on my shelf but haven't picked it up yet... I'd be interested to know what you think of it Sonya."

I have A Confederacy of Dunces on my shelf, too, waiting to be read (for quite awhile now, actually.) I get distracted by other books to read, even though I have several books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. Too many books, not enough time!

[Lauren]

Thanks for your help guys! House of Sand and Fog it will be!

[Heather]

I have just started American Wife A Novel. I'm interested in how I will read it-as in trying not to make a fiction story totally a biography (kinda like some did with The DaVinci Code).

Heather in KS

[Sonya]

Tanya wrote: "Sonya wrote: "I have just started listening to A Confederacy of Dunces. It's been on my list forever, I don't know why it's taken so long to get to it. With books I need to "confront," I often tr..."

Thanks for this, Tanya. I am having a similar experience of Ignatius, though I wondered if it had more to do with the actor who's reading. I also wondered if Walker Percy's discovery of this novel (and subsequent Pulitzer Prize) created an aura around it that inflates its merit. But I'm too early on to judge. I think I may abandon this audio version, though--the thought of listening to it actually makes me cringe, and it's a big book.

[Irene]

Should I introduce myself first or respond to Lauren who asked about Fall on Your Knees? Well, since I LOVED Fall on Your Knees, I think I'll mention that first. It's quirky, wonderfully imaginative and full of great characters AND there is a sequel called The Way the Crow Flies (which I haven't read). I haven't read House of Sand and Fog so I can't compare the two.

As for me, I joined this group a few days ago and subscribed to the podcast today. I've already added quite a few suggested titles to my booklist. I love the variety of books mentioned by this group, and the fact that not all of them are new releases. I usually have at least two books on the go. Right now I'm reading The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar, and the Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris.

[[deleted user]]

Irene wrote: "Should I introduce myself first or respond to Lauren who asked about Fall on Your Knees? Well, since I LOVED Fall on Your Knees, I think I'll mention that first. It's quirky, wonderfully imaginativ..."

Hi Irene, just a clarification -- The Way the Crow Flies isn't a sequel to Fall on Your Knees (just written by the same author). It is really good and I liked it better than Fall on Your Knees.
If you like The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar just wrote another novel called The Weight of Heaven that is excellent.

[Lauren]

Oh no! Now I don't know which one to read! I am going to read them both, so I will let you know what I think. Thanks so much for all of the advice!

[Michael]

Scott, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is fantastic! I listened to the unabridged audio, read by Gaiman. It's highly recommended and you'll hear that recommendation from a bookseller friend on our podcast in 3 weeks!

[Dottie]

Stephanie - wanted to weigh in as well on House of Sand and Fog. I think that is one of the most powerful books I have read and we had the delightful opportunity to host Andre Dubus III at our local library last week. I have never worked with an author who connects so completely with his audience and in hearing him talk about his life you understand why he has such empathy for those people he describes as being on the edge of life and making some very bad choices. His new book is The Garden of Last Days and - like House of Sand and Fog - deals with people who are coping with the result of their bad decisions.

Dottie M.

[Stephanie]

Ick to both. I gave both of them a shot and found them to be horribly disappointing. He had me for the first half of House, but I thought the entire novel Garden was too contrived. I listened to it on audio. If I had to pick, House was much better. I think critics thought so too.

And a general ick to anything Oprah put on her old book list (before she started classics)...there are a few exceptions on there, but I would stay away...far, far away...I mention this because O selected House of Sand and Fog and Fall on Your Knees for her original list.

[Vanessa]

I just had to weigh in and say despite the Oprah issues I share with Stephanie, I loved House of Sand and Fog although it's definitely a downer. The movie was also good but only told half of the story and the rest was so powerful. I also enjoyed the insight into the main character's mental state the book provided (she was too much a tabula rasa in the film I thought.)

Also reading Dottie's comment about Dubus appearing at your library, I'm jealous. I recently went to a book reading/signing by David Sedaris and I now am committed to finding more author events to attend. There is nothing like connecting with an author you've read and loved in person.

[Irene]

Suzanne wrote: The Way the Crow Flies isn't a sequel to Fall on Your Knees (just written by the same author). Thanks for the clarification, and the positive review.

After reading everyone's posts on the House of Sand and Fog it's going on my to-read list. I usually don't like to read a book after having seen the movie, but there are some strong thumbs up here.

[Vanessa]

Hi Irene--I think you'll really enjoy the book right after seeing the movie. I thought the movie was well done but the book added so much to the questions I had about various character's motivations. As I said, especially Jennifer Connelly's but also her policeman boyfriend whose decisions I found rather baffling(actually, I'm still not sure I understand him but that's a very minor quibble.) I want to say more but I don't want to ruin the experience for you.

[Ann]

So this is off-topic, but ... re: the House of Sand & Fog movie. I would say that I liked it, except that the entire time I was watching, I was anxious that I had forgotten to open a letter or pay a bill and that I would end up in similar circumstances to the Jennifer Connelly. It made me really uncomfortable, and I couldn't focus on the film. Anyone else?

[Vanessa]

That's so funny Ann. I'm notoriously bad about waiting till the last minute to write checks and now that you mention it, I also felt anxious that I had forgotten something. Not so much when I read the book tho which is odd. Maybe it was the visual of the police rousting JC out of her house that was so anxiety provoking.

Dubus also wrote the story that became In the Bedroom. It might have had a different title in written form. I really want to read that one. I loved the movie.

[Don]

I just discovered the podcast and am really enjoying it so far. So I'm new to this group too, but it seems like a nice group of people :)

Anyway, I'm currently reading:

Dune
1776

I have a penchant for sci-fi and fantasy (on the fictional side at least), but I'll read just about anything interesting. I just wish I could read faster as I have so many books I want to read.

[Chris K.]

Welcome Don.

Dune is one of my favorites. I've read at least three times.

[Scott]

Ugh! I have been listening to older podcasts, and I keep having to add to my to-read list. As if it isn't big enough, but seriously thank you for all your recommendations. I just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman which was very good. I am now reading Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, which if fascinating but also difficult to read. After that I am hoping to start a recommendation from Ann, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I use to work as a bookseller and one of my fellow employees, a middle-aged gentleman, loved the Outlander series. I had "forgotten" about this title until I heard Ann speak about it.

[Melissa]

I am so glad that I found this podcast. I have recently finished Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Beowulf on the Beach, and the first Lee Child mystery - all recommended by Ann and Michael. I enjoyed every one, but my favorite by far is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. After I read it, I went back and re-read 84 Charing Cross Road. An excellent pairing! I am currently reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog and One Minute to Midnight.

[Chris K.]

I just started Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. It's very good so far. It's very different from her other books, Kushiel's Dart, et al.

I'm also enjoying Beowulf on the Beach. I had to give up on my challenge book, The Canterbury Tales. I think I'll try another title after finishing Beowulf on the Beach.

[[deleted user]]

Chris wrote: "I just started Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. It's very good so far. It's very different from her other books, Kushiel's Dart, et al.

I'm also enjoying Beowulf on the Beach. I had to give ..."

I just got my copy of Beowulf on the Beach yesterday and flipped immediately to his chapter on Remembrance of Things Past, which is my challenge. It was great reading and gives me hope that I might (one day)finish all 7 volumes (I'm almost done with volume 2).

[[deleted user]]

I just finished (re-)reading "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon (the third in the Outlander series.) My motivation for doing so was to refresh myself on the background and context of Lord John Grey. I listened to "Lord John and the Hellfire Society," "Lord John and the Private Matter," and "Lord John and the Succubus," (all narrated by Jeff Woodman); but something didn't feel right about the Lord John series. The Lord John series seems rather artless by comparison to the Outlander series. As for "Voyager" itself, I felt a little disappointed this time around. While the First-in-Series, "Outlander," holds up after all these years, "Voyager's" flaws were too readily apparent. The writing seemed a bit careless and the pacing was off: very slow in the beginning and then cinematically-fast! I'll probably read "Lord John and the Brotherhood in the Blade" in print to see if it holds up better than the audio production; but not until I finish with "Jane Eyre" (by Charlotte Bronte; part of the BOTB Challenge.)

[Chris K.]

Conny, I loved the Harry Potter books on audio. Jim Dale is a great narrator.

Tanya, I read the first four of the Outlander series. I agree with you. The first one holds up (I've read it twice) but I couldn't reread the second, third, or fourth. I haven't read number 5 or 6 either. I do enjoy the Lord John mysteries. They are much shorter and to the point.

[Danelle]

I just started reading eat pray love. So far i like what i read. I can kind of relate to it.

[Shona]

I'm currently reading The Dante Club. It took me a while to get into it, but now that I am halfway through, I'm hooked and really enjoying it. Also, on my commute back and forth to work, I'm listening to Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost. It's not as funny as The Sex Lives of Cannibals, but it is a nice diversion while sitting in traffic!

[Irene]

I just finished reading The Worst Hard Time. A great book, that I heard about on this site. I went through it in three days, which tells you what a well written book it is -- I often find history hard to slog through. It certainly puts any petty worries I may have into perspective!

I took three books out of the library yesterday and started with Life in Rewind. The other two to follow are The Help, which has had lots of good reviews,and The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint. I haven't heard anything about that one. Has anyone read it?

Does anyone here belong to the Paperback Swap Club? I've been getting some great books through it as well as passing on the ones I've read.

[Laura Ellis]

I just started Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman. I like it so far. Has anyone else read this yet?
Laura

[[deleted user]]

Laura wrote: "I just started Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman. I like it so far. Has anyone else read this yet?
Laura"

Laura, I just read it a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it very much.

[Vanessa]

I am tryyyying to read The Road for my book club. Not sure if I'll finish. I like dystopian literature on occasion but this book is just unrelenting page upon page of hopeless grimness. I thought I could read it the day I took my dog to the park. It still was too much even sitting in a green sunny place. I couldn't begin to imagine reading this during wintertime.

On the bright side, I reserved the first Highlander book after Ann's podcast suggestion. Alas, my neighbors must also be listeners. It'll be a few weeks before it's my turn.

[[deleted user]]

I wrapped up "The Tea House on Mulberry Street" (by Sharon Owens; narrated by Caroline Winterson) last night. It's a fairly mediocre bit of writing about roughly a dozen people whose common factor is the eponymous tea house (ref. the title.)This was my first exposure to Sharon Owen's work and I'm glad I tried it, but I think I'll pass on future titles. Now I've started "The Girl with the Gragon Tattoo" (by Stiegg Larsson; narrated by Simon Vance.)

[Ann]

Vanessa,
Many people have trouble with THE ROAD. I want to tell you to read through to the end, and you will see hope. The truth is, some have read through to the end and see only sorrow. (see the 'literary kryptonite' guest post by Hope on the Books on the Nightstand blog as an example). I will say that you should have an excellent discussion at book club and you will miss some of it if you don't finish, but I truly understand if you can't.

As for the book I recommended, do you mean OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon? I think there actually is a 'Highlander', which I haven't read, so just wanted to make sure you're waiting for the right book. how I would love it if you neighbors were listeners, but I'm afraid it's likely the book's popularity and not my recommendation that is driving demand!

[Karen]

Vanessa wrote: "I am tryyyying to read The Road for my book club. Not sure if I'll finish. I like dystopian literature on occasion but this book is just unrelenting page upon page of hopeless grimness. I thought I..."

I agree, I don't understand why everyone loved this so much.

[Vanessa]

HI Ann (and Karen)-

Whoops, yes it's Outlander. Highlander was the awesome Sean Connery movie ("In the end, there can be only one!")

Thanks for the tip on The Road too. It definitely does give me a lot to think about and everytime I go outside or look at my dog, I feel so thankful. I did read the literary Kryptonite post which was amazing (I also followed the link to that Sudan picture and I understand why these two works are linked in the writer's head.) Regardless, I will totally have to follow up with some mindless trash to purify myself whether I agree with you or Karen.

[Rita]

Debbie wrote: "Anne, I'm about half way through listening to Pillars of the Earth. I had to turn it off tonight earlier than I planned. Maybe I'm in the wrong mood, but the character of William (the new Earl) is ..."

I got a third of the way through that book and couldn't get into it.

[Rita]

I'm new to the group, so Hi!

I'm reading Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

[[deleted user]]

Rita wrote: "I'm new to the group, so Hi!

I'm reading Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster"

Funny funny book. I finished it in a couple of hours and laughed through most of it.

[Rita]

Suzanne wrote: "Rita wrote: "I'm new to the group, so Hi!

I'm reading Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster"

Funny funny book. I finished it in a couple of hours and laughed through most of it."

Yea, I've read the first two and I read them quickly. She's funny.

[Michael]

Welcome Rita... thanks for joining us here!

[Jessika]

I'm semi-new to this group, so hello to everyone! :)

I'm currently reading The Year of Jubilo A Novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr.

[Melissa]

I'm currently reading In the Land of Invisible Women. It's about a Muslim woman that had basically lived in the West and adopted Western culture and then accepted a job in Saudi Arabia, where she had to accept Sharia law. It's really interesting so far!

[Ann]

Jess, Hi, and welcome!

Melissa, In the Land of Invisible Women sounds fascinating. Also very similar to one of the women profiled in Geraldine Brooks' amazing NINE PARTS OF DESIRE. I will try to find it. Thanks!